Malaysia hoping for incident-free match against Indonesia tomorrow

The Manahan Stadium in Solo which has a capacity of 25,000, is expected to be filled to the brim tomorrow. – mapio.net

SOLO: Malaysian skipper Mohd Amri Yahyah is hoping that no untoward incidents will mar their international friendly match against Indonesia at the Manahan Stadium on Tuesday.

Amri Yahyah said the players are aware of the expected pressure from the hostile Indonesian fans but hoped they (fans) would not do anything to interrupt the match.

“We know what to expect on the pitch but hope there will be no untoward incidents that can disrupt the match since this is only a friendly,” he told reporters here today.

He added that both teams had pledged to approach the match in the friendly manner because the focus for both teams would be preparations for the Suzuki Cup in November.

“We are aware that the Indonesian fans have been waiting for more than a year to see their team in action and will be just eager to provide all the support that the team needed,” he said.

The match against Malaysia tomorrow will be Indonesia’s first international match after the Indonesian national team was suspended for a year by the International Football Federation (FIFA) following the government’s interference in the football association.

The Manahan Stadium in Solo which has a capacity of 25,000, is expected to be filled to the brim tomorrow.

Meanwhile, National coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee said though the main target would be to secure a win, the main target would be to see the players blending together since the players would be playing together for the first time.

Kim Swee said tomorrow’s match would also provide him an opportunity to identify the core players for the Suzuki Cup in November.

In 2011, two fans were killed during a stampede at the Bung Karno Stadium which hosted the SEA Games final between Malaysia and Indonesia when angry fans who could not get tickets to watch the match rushed through the gates.

Malaysia, who won the match after a penalty shootout to claim the gold medal, had to leave the stadium in armoured vehicles.